Andrew Fifita confirmed as latest Canterbury Bulldogs' NRL signing

Canterbury's search for Ben Barba's replacement at full-back will continue after Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita committed to Belmore for the next four seasons.

Fifita has joined the Bulldogs on a four-year deal starting in 2015 worth a reported $3.2 million, in a significant blow to the Sharks where his tackle-busting runs and hard-hitting defence earned him New South Wales and Australia Test jumpers last year.

The 24-year-old will add starch to an already impressive Bulldogs pack.

But it is the full-back spot that continues to be a problem at Belmore after Barba was released to join Brisbane this year on compassionate grounds.

Bulldogs chief executive Castle heralded the signing of Fifita and did not rule out the club adding a star full-back to the Shark's signature for this season.

"It is an important day for the club," Castle said.

"It is not everyday you sign a Kangaroos and a State of Origin player.

"Andrew is an inspirational player and he is a great signing for the Bulldogs both on and off the field."

On the search for a full-back Castle said: "The NRL player market is always changing, it is very dynamic and there are always opportunities that arise.

"We are not going to sign a full-back just for the sake of it. But if a star full-back were to become available we would definitely be interested.

"There is a chance that could happen this year."

Broncos star Josh Hoffman continues to be linked to Belmore, despite two years remaining on his contract at the Broncos.

Meanwhile, Sharks chief executive Steve Noyce says he is confident the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ASADA scandal will not stop the club from securing a big-name replacement for Fifita.

"We are not going to race out the door and replace a player of his calibre and his stature straight away," Noyce said.

"We obviously wanted Andrew to stay and we put forward an offer that showed the value and importance we placed on him staying here.

"People outside the club put a lot more emphasis on that (the supplements scandal) than us.

"Obviously we want that to be concluded as soon as possible and hopefully that will happen now the Federal Government is pushing it along.

"Definitely we are a club that players want to come to and with some of the signings we have made in recent years we have shown that.

"We showed at the back end of last year that this is a club that deals well with adversity."

Hours after Fifita announced the move, the Sharks confirmed he had taken the early guilty plea on a grade two shoulder charge, which will sideline him for two weeks.